Govts. urged to encourage female participation in science, technology
Science
By Ruth Adebayo
Abuja, Aug. 13, 2018 (NAN) a cross section of Nigerians have urged states and the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward encouraging more female participation in science and technology.
The respondents made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
They said that the encouragement was necessary in order to fully harness available potential for national growth.
While observing the low level of female enrollment in science courses in tertiary institutions in the country, they expressed concern over the gap between female students and their male counterparts.
Mr Olusegun Akanbi, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, noted that female students shy away from science courses because they considered them more stressful.
“Many female students prefer where their little effort will give them good grades as they believe that it is difficult to pass science courses.’’
He, however, said governments should institute a special scholarship scheme for female students who want to study science courses.
Akanbi also said that female students who had completed their courses in any science field should be absorbed in available job opportunities to encourage other female students to embrace the sciences.
“When this is done, they would be encouraged and others will follow suit because even after the whole stress, they will be assured of job opportunities.
On his part, Mr Babayo Damisa, an ICT expert, said the best way to encourage students, especially the female ones was to bring role model to mentor them.
Damisa, the Managing Director, Damisah Creative Agency, an ICT company:“People that have excelled in various fields pertaining to science should be brought into schools to tutor and mentor the young ladies.
“They should make this effective as soon as possible for them to embrace science and technology and this will make them have interest in science,” he said. (NAN)
ARA/KTO/NKO
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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Nkechi Okoronkwo